Rangers’ transfer policy has taken an obvious turn for the better this summer as more players with the right type of profile arrive at the club.
Young, energetic, dynamic – that is the hallmark of Philippe Clement’s best players against Ajax: Jefte, Mohamed Diomande, Connor Barron, and academy talents like Alex Lowry and Robbie Fraser.
Not many senior players have been linked to Rangers, but the next best thing is those who may be lacking in years but have been around the block a few times. Nobody ticks this box more than Abdallah Sima.
Rangers boss admits Abdallah Sima love
The 22-year-old Senegal international Abdallah Sima has played in England, France, Czechia, and Scotland. With his experience at major tournaments with his country and participation in both the Champions League and Europa League, Sima fits perfectly into Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement’s transfer policy. Despite his experience, he still has a lot to learn and room to develop.
Since signing for Brighton for a reported £6 million, Sima has been loaned out multiple times, and it’s clear from previous interviews that Rangers is where he wants to call home. Philippe Clement, as reported by The Scottish Sun, shares this sentiment:
> “I’ve been in touch with him, of course. He’s like one of my sons. Abda loves the club. Abda loves the way of playing we had last season and his role in that. He loved his teammates and the staff. But at the end of the day, Brighton is the owner so it’s all about the money then. At the moment it’s not possible. But we will see along the way if there comes a possibility because we would love to get him back. We will see if it is possible.”
Whether or not your glass is half empty or half full will influence how you interpret Clement’s comments. It looks like Rangers, Clement, and Sima all want the transfer to happen. However, Brighton is the party that needs to be persuaded. With a new manager and Brighton not having their first pre-season fixture until July 24th, a decision on Sima’s future is unlikely to be made soon.
The transfer window is open until the end of August, and Brighton can afford to wait. It seems Rangers aren’t too far from what’s needed to make the transfer happen, but Brighton might be holding out for more money.
By maintaining communication with Sima, Clement is ensuring Rangers remain at the forefront of his mind, showing him the love and stability he needs—especially given his nomadic early career. When the time comes, Sima may choose the familiarity and warmth of Rangers over another new adventure. If no other offers come in and with just a year left on his contract, Clement might just secure his man and bring about a welcome family reunion.